The Culinary Institute of America seeks candidates for its degree and cer­tificate programs who can demonstrate academic competence and who have experience in the foodservice industry. Program start dates are offered throughout the year, and students may submit their application for admission year-round except where noted.

Associate and Bachelor’s Degree Programs—U.S. Campuses

Admissions Process

The college has a selective admissions process whereby each candidate is evaluated individu­ally. The basic requirements are as follows:

Students must have met all the require­ments for a high school diploma or have a GED credential

A medical exam

A complete medical examination is required within one year of the student’s entry date. An exam form is supplied by the CIA (and is available from CIA Main Menu, the student web portal) for this purpose and must be completed and returned to Student Health Services for review by the school’s medical staff. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

Application Procedure

The steps to apply for admission to the degree programs are as follows:

Applicants

Complete the CIA application or Common Application

Read the application carefully and com­plete all sections. The CIA application is available at www.ciachef.edu/applynow.

Applicants with significant experience in the foodservice industry or who are career changers should consider including a copy of their résumé.

The questions can be found on the CIA website. Each response must be a minimum of 100 words.

Pay the nonrefundable application fee

Submit payment of $50 to The Culinary Institute of America.

Ask for a recommendation

One character letter of recommendation is required. It should be from an employer, teacher, or professional colleague either within or outside the foodservice industry. The letter should address the applicant’s commitment to the food world, problem-solving ability, and persistence in either work or academics.

Request official transcripts

Applicants should ask all secondary and postsecondary schools they’ve attended to send the student’s official transcripts (not a student copy) directly to CIA Admissions. These can be received in paper version or electronically directly from the school.

For applicants who hold an equivalency diploma, the official test scores must be submitted.

For high school students, the transcript must be complete through the 11th grade, and indicate what courses they’ll take in the 12th grade or show their marks for the 12th grade. Applicants must have met all the requirements for a high school diploma or have received an equivalency diploma to enroll at the CIA.

Applicants who have matriculated in a college-level degree program and have completed the equivalent of 24 or more college credits are not required to submit a high school transcript. Academic transcripts are required for all colleges attended.

Submit SAT and/or ACT scores

The college strongly recommends that students who have taken the SAT and/or ACT include their scores, as they may help students qualify for a scholarship if submitted prior to acceptance.

Submit the required application materials to CIA Admissions

Materials can be submitted through the student’s online application or sent in the mail to: Admis­sions Department, The Culinary Institute of America, 1946 Campus Drive, Hyde Park, NY 12538-1499.

Most CIA students will have had some experience in food—including culinary classes during high school or college, work in the food industry, or extensive personal cooking or baking activities. If you need to confirm your interest in a food career or your choice of major at the CIA, we recommend that you gain hands-on experience in a classroom, work, or volunteer setting prior to enrolling at the college.

Junior-Year Applicants

CIA associate degree program students

CIA associate degree students interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree program should contact the Center for Career and Academic Advising for the appropriate form.

After completion of the AOS or AAS course work and practicals, students who are accepted into the bachelor’s degree program may enroll with two outstanding grades from the final AOS or AAS semester. Passing grades and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for the associate degree program must be verified during the student’s first bachelor’s semester in order to continue into the second bachelor’s semester.

CIA associate degree graduates

CIA graduates interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree program at the CIA should contact the Center for Career and Academic Advising for the appropriate form. Graduates who are applying for admission should note that they may need to complete any associate-level courses that have been added to the curriculum since they graduated.

All Applicants—Points to Remember:

Our Admissions Committee reviews all appli­cations, which are valid for 18 months. Please note that the CIA does not return any materi­als sent as part of the admissions review process. Do not submit original diplomas and certificates, as they will not be returned.

The applicant’s prior educational record will be evaluated according to the difficulty of the program undertaken, class rank, and grade point average. Applicants who have vocational training in culinary arts and re­lated disciplines are expected to have strong marks in these areas.

The application is seen as a direct reflection the student and his or her interest, moti­vation, confidence, and academic ability. The CIA will note the student’s initiative in expressing and documenting these areas in his or her application materials.

All prospective students must demonstrate their proficiency in the English language at a level adequate for success at the CIA. If a student’s primary spoken language is other than English, the submission of TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic scores is required as part of his or her application. Please see International Students for details.

Challenge Exam

A student can be awarded credit for Mathematical Foundations by demonstrating knowledge of the course content acquired prior to enrolling at the CIA. This is achieved by earning a pass­ing score on a challenge exam. The math challenge exam tests the concepts that are taught in Mathematical Foundations.

The math challenge exam is recom­mended for students who:

Have proven proficiency by having earned an AP math score of 3 or higher,

Have taken a college-level math course but did not receive credit, or

Feel confident that prior training or experience in math can fulfill the course requirement.

To receive credit for the Mathematical Foundations course, a score of at least 72% on the math challenge exam is required.

It is highly recommended that students discuss their options with an advisor/coun­selor in the Admissions Office or Education Department.

For More Information

Bachelor’s Degree Program—Singapore

Admissions Process

The college has a selective admissions pro­cess whereby each candidate is evaluated individually. The basic requirements are:

A diploma from a Singaporean polytechnic

Transfer credits have already been mapped out for students with a diploma in culinary and catering management, hospitality and tourism management, or leisure and resort management. If graduates of these programs satisfy the transfer credit policy of the CIA (see Transfer Credit), they will receive credit for the courses already completed during their polytechnic education. These students will follow a typical sequence of courses, which can be found on the CIA Singapore website at www.ciachef.edu/singapore.

Any other students who apply must have their transfer credits mapped specific to their previous diploma program, and may be required to take additional courses. Non-relevant diplomas and other applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Work experience at a non-fast-food establishment with a professional kitchen

The CIA Singapore requires that students gain relevant experience before enrolling by working in a foodservice operation, by completing culinary classes during high school or postsecondary school, or by completing college- or polytechnic-level culinary courses. Time requirements vary by type of experience. Foodservice and hospitality is a rewarding and challenging profession, and this experience requirement is designed to help students understand the realities of working in the foodservice industry and be confident in their career choice.

Application Procedure

The steps to apply for admission to the bachelor’s degree program in Singapore are as follows:

Admissions will be open for three months, January–March. During this time, pro­spective students will apply and their applications will be reviewed. If the Admis­sions Committee approves a student’s application, he or she will be invited for a face-to-face interview. The purpose of the interview is to meet the student, get to know him or her, and better understand his or her passion for the food and hospitality industry.

Ask for recommendations

Two recommendations are required. One must be from an industry employer that describes the applicant’s foodservice experience. The second must be a recom­mendation from a professional contact (e.g., employer, business associate, mentor), in order to give the Admissions Committee a greater understanding of the student’s char­acter and abilities.

To make it easier for a foodservice employer or professional contact to write the letter of recommendation, applicants can download and print the CIA’s Letter of Recommendation Guidelines from www.ciachef.edu/singapore and pass them along to the recommender.

For More Information

Certificate Programs

Admissions Process

The college has a selective admissions pro­cess whereby each candidate is evaluated individually. The basic requirements are as follows:

Program-specific requirements

ACAP—Offered at the California campus, the Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate Program is open only to students who will have completed a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, restaurant management, food science, nutrition, or closely related field by June 1 of the year of their program date. We may consider other majors in the fields of marketing and public relations. Please submit a personal statement along with your application that speaks to your interest in this field and how your previous education prepares you for success.

Applicants must complete a college-level course in food safety, sanitation, and basic food costing or have equivalent work experience prior to beginning the ACAP.

WBGC—The Wine and Beverage Graduate Certificate Program, offered at the California campus, is open to those individuals 21 years of age or older who have a serious interest in a professional career in wine, beverage, and service management in the hospitality industry. Prospective students must have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in hospitality management or a related field. While students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in another discipline may enroll in the program, they are expected to enter the program with some knowledge of the industry.

Application Procedure

Applicants with significant experience in the foodservice industry or who are career changers should consider including a copy of their résumé.

Submit a Statement of Purpose

Each certificate-seeking applicant is expected to complete a Statement of Pur­pose. This statement should be 300–500 words concerning your purpose for under­taking or continuing your study of culinary arts or graduate study in wines and beverages, your reasons for wanting to study at The Culinary Institute of America, and your professional plans and career goals. You also may explain any special circum­stances applicable to your background and elaborate on relevant academic and/or professional achievements.

Pay the nonrefundable application fee

Submit payment of $50 to The Culinary Institute of America.

Request a recommendation

The letter of recommendation should be from a senior administrator or faculty member associated with the program from which the applicant has graduated or will graduate. Applicants who have been out of school for more than five years should substitute a letter of recommendation from their current employer.

Request official transcripts

Applicants should ask all secondary and postsecondary schools they’ve attended to send the student’s official transcripts (not a student copy) directly to CIA Admis­sions. Academic transcripts are required for all colleges the applicant has attended. Transcripts can be received in paper version or electronically directly from the school.

Submit the required application materi­als to CIA Admissions

Materials can be submitted through the student’s online application or sent in the mail to: Admis­sions, The Culinary Institute of America, 1946 Campus Drive, Hyde Park, NY 12538-1499.

All Applicants—Points to Remember:

Our Admissions Committee reviews all applications, which are valid for 18 months. Please note that the CIA does not return any materials sent as part of the admis­sion review process. Do not submit original diplomas and certificates, as they will not be returned.

The applicant’s prior educational record will be evaluated according to the difficulty of the program undertaken, class rank, and grade point average. Applicants who have coursework in subjects related to the program for which they are applying are ex­pected to have strong marks in these areas.

The application is seen as a direct reflection the student and his or her interest, motiva­tion, confidence, and academic ability. The CIA will note the student’s initiative in expressing and documenting these areas in his or her application materials.

All prospective students must demonstrate their proficiency in the English language at a level adequate for success at the CIA. If a student’s primary spoken language is other than English, the submission of English lan­guage proficiency scores is required as part of his or her application. Please see International Students for details.

Campus Visits

Prospective students are encouraged to come see the CIA firsthand. Admis­sions Information Sessions and Open Houses are scheduled throughout the year, giving prospective stu­dents a chance to talk with admissions rep­resentatives, faculty, and current students. Call 1-800-CULINARY or visit www.ciachef.edu for session dates.

General Admissions Information—All Programs

Catalog and Enrollment Agreement

Prospective students are encouraged to review the CIA Academic Catalog prior to signing an enrollment agreement.

California Campus

Students are also encouraged to review the School Performance Fact Sheet, which must be provided to the student prior to their signing an enrollment agreement.

Technical Standards

In order to reflect the requirements and standards of the foodservice and hospitality industry, The Culinary Institute of America requires all students to meet certain essen­tial functions/technical standards needed for successful completion of all phases of our education programs. To participate in and successfully complete the CIA’s degree and certificate programs, each student, with or without reasonable accommoda­tions, must be able to meet these standards.

CIA Learning Strategies/Library Learn­ing Commons staff members are also available to assist students with a disability in determining if their documentation is appropriate and current, and to answer any additional questions. For further information about our disability services, visit www.ciachef.edu or call 845-451-1219 or 845-451-1288 (NY), 707-967-2406 (CA), or 210-554-6465 (TX).

Withdrawal of Application

Applicants who have not visited the school prior to enrollment will have the opportu­nity to withdraw without penalty within three business days following either the regularly scheduled orientation procedures or following a tour of the facilities and inspection of equipment where training and services are provided.

Articulation Agreements

The CIA has articulation agreements in place with other educational organiza­tions, including high schools and National Student Organizations (NSOs). The college also has articulation agreements with Orange County Community College and Rockland Community College, both in New York State. Visit the CIA website to view the complete list of participating organizations.

Transfer Credit

The CIA may allow an individual who has earned college credits at an accredited college and/or university and/or through select examinations and/or through the military and/or through life achievement to be awarded up to 60 credits towards his or her CIA degree(s). Because of the unique nature of the CIA’s curricula, only select course work can be considered for transfer credit. The CIA does not accept trans­fer credits for laboratory courses (unless specifically negotiated under an articula­tion agreement or approved by the CIA as an elective) in culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, or hospitality and service management courses. Course work evalu­ated and deemed acceptable based on its content and comparability relative to stan­dard college/university curricula will be awarded college transfer credit consistent with the CIA’s Transfer Credit Policy.

Transfer credit requests are reviewed by the appropriate dean/associate dean to deter­mine the equivalency in content and level to CIA courses or categories. Transfer credit assignment to a particular major is dependent on the specific courses and dis­tribution requirements deemed appropriate for transfer into that major.

Questions about transfer credit should be directed to the Center for Career and Academic Advis­ing at advising@culinary.edu.

Approval Criteria

The following parameters must be met to transfer credit:

A student may be eligible to receive up to 60 credits toward his or her degree for prior course work, certain examinations, military experience, and/or life achievement.

Any course from another higher education institution for which transfer credit is re­quested should normally be from an accredited college and/or university as relevant to a particular major.

A student must have completed the course to be transferred from another institution with a grade of “C” or better.

Transferred courses are not calculated into a student’s overall grade point average.

The following additional parameters also apply, as relevant:

A student took the College Board AP exam and received a “4” or higher within the past five years.

The CIA will accept AP Calculus and AP Statistics if the student received a “3” or higher.

A student took selected CLEP exams or DSST exams with qualifying scores as determined by the grading authority.

A student took International Baccalaureate (IB) courses with qualifying scores as deter­mined by the grading authority.

A student will receive credit if he or she suc­cessfully completes the CIA Culinary Math Challenge Exam.

A student may receive college credit for military courses evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE). He or she may also receive college credit for military experi­ence through the Life Achievement Portfolio.

A student may receive credit for life achieve­ment for experiences outside traditional college courses that meet the learning objec­tives of those courses. The student will be charged according to the fee listed in Fees That May Be Assessed.

A culinary arts student may be eligible to receive externship credit based on work experience.

Please note:

Credits accepted for transfer may count to­ward the completion of degree requirements but are not calculated in a student’s grade point average at the college.

Tuition charges are assessed based on full-time study, with each semester ranging between 12–18 credits. Students who take fewer or more than the full-time course load will be charged according to the fee listed in Fees That May Be Assessed.

Students who receive transfer credit and wish to supplement their semester courses may take an Independent Study course or elec­tive with the permission of the appropriate academic dean.

The transferability of credits you earn at the CIA is at the complete discretion of an institu­tion to which you seek to transfer.

Appeal Process

The transfer credit appeal process must be in accordance with the following procedures:

The student must review the transfer credit evaluation with the transfer credit coordinator.

The student must submit a written statement outlining the reasons he or she should be awarded credit (one page maximum).

The student must provide a detailed course guide or syllabus and course description from the catalog.

The student must submit the materials with the transfer credit appeal application to the dean for academic engagement and administration.

Within five business days, the student will receive confirmation via e-mail that his or her appeal is being reviewed by the vice president of academic affairs. If the student does not receive confirmation, he or she should contact the transfer credit coordinator.

Within 10 business days, the vice president for academic affairs will render a final decision. If the appeal is granted, the transfer credit coordinator will make the necessary changes for the transferal of credit.

How to be Considered for Transfer Credit

Incoming students

To be evaluated for college course or AP transfer credit at the CIA, incoming stu­dents should follow the college’s application procedure for admission:

Complete the application for admission.

Include official copies of all high school and/or college transcripts, if not previously sent.

Once the student has been accepted to the CIA and official transcripts are on file from previous institutions, he or she will auto­matically be reviewed for transfer credits. Within three weeks of acceptance, the col­lege will e-mail the student with the results of the transfer credit evaluation.

A student can be awarded transfer credit for the externship based on previous work experience. Eligible students need to have at least 2.5 years of post-high school foodservice experience with progressive levels of responsibility in the professional kitchen. To be considered for this credit, students must submit the standard admissions materials as well as their résumé and an additional professional letter of recommendation. Students will be required to submit an online application and attach items electronically, and a personal interview may be scheduled to discuss and verify their experience. Students must submit their application any time before the end of the first semester, and will be notified of the application decision within two weeks. Space may be limited for this opportunity.

Enrolled students

Students must have submitted appropriate documentation and/or their official transcript(s) by the end of the first semester of their degree program to be con­sidered for transfer credit. Official copies of all transcripts should be sent to the:

Important note for all students

Once a student is enrolled in a degree program, the student is expected to com­plete the remainder of his or her degree requirements (after transfer credit has been awarded) at The Culinary Institute of America.

For further information on transfer credit, students should contact the Center for Career and Academic Advising at transfercredits@culinary.edu.

Notice Concerning the Transferability of Credits Earned at the CIA

The transferability of credits you earn at The Culinary Institute of America is at the complete discretion of an institu­tion to which you may seek to transfer. Acceptance of the degree or certificate you earn from the CIA is also at the complete discretion of the institution to which you seek to transfer. If the degree or certificate you earn at the CIA is not accepted at the institution to which you seek to transfer, you may be required to repeat some or all of your coursework at that institution.

For this reason, you should make certain that your attendance at the CIA will meet your educational goals. This may include contacting an institution to which you may seek to transfer after attending the CIA to determine if your credits, degree, or certifi­cate will transfer.

Life Achievement Portfolio

Students may be able to earn life achieve­ment credit for select liberal arts and business management undergraduate courses if they can demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge contained in those courses.

The successful candidate for life achieve­ment credit must be at least 23 years old, have completed the first semester at the CIA, and have five years of relevant work, military, and/or life experience that have resulted in college-level learning. Can­didates will be competent writers and have the time and energy to devote to the writing of a Life Achievement Portfolio. The portfolio includes a description of the student’s life achievements and how these experiences allowed the student to acquire skills and knowledge of comparable value to what he or she could have acquired from specific courses at the CIA.

To explore their individual situations, interested students should first contact the Center for Career and Academic Advising and meet with an advisor. If they receive approval to proceed with developing a portfolio, they will register for the Life Achievement Port­folio application on Moodle and be charged a fee of $150. Over the course of a maxi­mum of eight weeks, students—with the sup­port of tutors from the Library Learning Commons, if needed—complete and submit their portfolio for evaluation.

A decision may result in an award of credit, a denial of credit requested, or a request for additional information. Stu­dents will be notified of the decision by the transfer credit coordinator. Appeals may be made to the appropriate academic dean.

Privacy of Application Records

Campus Transfers

In some instances, a currently enrolled associate degree student may seek a trans­fer of studies to or from the Hyde Park, NY; St. Helena, CA; or San Antonio, TX campuses. Please refer to the college’s Policy on Transfers Between Campuses for the policy on campus transfers.

Readmission Policy

With the exception of U.S. service members as noted below, individuals who have not been in atten­dance at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) for 12 months or more will have the opportunity to complete their degree contingent upon successful readmission. Individuals wishing to apply to The Culi­nary Institute of America for readmission after an absence of 12 months or more must complete the appropriate applica­tion, including an essay, and submit all required documentation to the CIA’s Center for Academic Advising for consideration. Reinstatement of financial aid is not automatic upon read­mission, and individuals must contact Stu­dent Financial and Registration Services directly to discuss aid.

The CIA will promptly readmit an individual whose education was interrupted by voluntary or involuntary U.S. military service of more than 30 consecutive days while enrolled in an education program at the CIA. A returning U.S. service member does not need to go through the formal reapplication policy and should contact Student Financial and Registration Services to initiate the process.

Vaccinations

Each State Department of Health and the CIA require documentation of screening for tuberculosis (TB) and documentation of having received two MMR vaccinations. If these requirements are not met, students will need to be screened for TB and/or re-immunized for MMR. The CIA requires vaccination against hepatitis A given in two injections six months apart. Vaccination against hepatitis B is recommended but not required. The hepatitis B vaccine is given in three injections over six months. The Menactra vaccine to protect against meningitis is required in California and Texas and recommended in New York. The meningitis vaccine is available in one injection.

Students should make arrangements with their health care provider to administer any required immunizations during their required medical exam appointment. Any follow-up vaccinations can be arranged through a provider local to the student’s campus. At the New York campus, Health Services can administer vaccines and charge all vaccine fees to the student’s account.

The entire Vaccination Policy can be found on the CIA Main Menu Policies and Procedures page.

International Students

Application

Application procedures are the same as those for applicants from the United States, with the exception of three additional requirements:

All instruction will occur in English. If the student’s native language is other than English, he or she will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language as part of his or her application file through one of three tests. Documentation of passing proficiency exam scores will be kept in the student’s file. The three test options are as follows:

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), administered by the Educational Testing Service. A minimum paper score of 550, CBT (computer-based test) score of 213, or iBT (Internet-based test) score of 80 (with a minimum of 20 in each section) is required. For information on test dates and locations, write to TOEFL, Box 6151, Princeton, NJ, 08541, USA; e-mail toefl@ets.org; visit www.toefl.org; or call 609-771-7100; or

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS), co-sponsored by the English testing entity of the University of Cambridge, and British and Australian organizations. A mini­mum overall score of 6.0 is required. For information, write to IELTS, Inc., 100 East Corson Street, Suite 200, Pasadena, CA 91103, USA; e-mail ielts@ceii.org; visit www.ielts.org; or call 626-564-2954.

The CIA will issue conditional acceptances for students who enroll in an English language course of study at a language school. The CIA has partnerships with three language schools for students who require further study to improve their English language proficiency: ELS Language Centers, International Mid Pacific College, and Empire State English.

ELS Language Centers: The CIA will accept completion of level 112, in lieu of the TOEFL score.

International Mid Pac College (IMPAC): The CIA will accept completion of the IMPAC Level 5—Low Advanced course combined with a 75+ score on the Michigan Test of English Language in lieu of the TOEFL score.

Empire State English (ESE): CIA will accept completion of ESE’s General English Level Advanced C in lieu of a TOEFL score.

Before you enroll in an English language program, you must first meet all of the admissions requirements listed below:

Have the available finances required for your program of study.

Submit your CIA application along with a letter indicating your intention to attend a language school prior to attending the CIA.

When you have submitted all documents to the CIA, your file will be reviewed for academic ability. If you are admissible, you will receive a Conditional Acceptance to the CIA. Once you receive your Conditional Acceptance, you must select and attend International Mid Pac College or an ELS center in the United States. After your successful completion of either program, submit your certificate of completion to the CIA. If you have attended a program and still find yourself unprepared for college-level classes, you will be able to return to the program of your choice for further study.

The following is necessary for inter­national students to obtain their Cer­tificate of Eligibility (Form I-20):

The student’s sponsor(s) must provide the Admissions Department with valid Affidavits of Support (Form I-134) verifying that funds will be available for all educational and living expenses while the student is studying in the United States, or

The student may choose to provide a bank statement indicating sufficient funds on account and a cover letter from the holder of the account, or

The student may submit the CIA’s official Letter of Financial Support from the holder of the account stating his or her intent to provide the student’s tuition and living expenses for the duration of his or her studies in the United States.

Students must provide a copy of their passport showing their personal information page (to ensure accurate processing of Form I-20).

Please note: All documentation must be in English. If originals are in another lan­guage, they must be translated before they are submitted to the CIA.

Visa Requirements (Degree Programs)

The degree programs require an F-1 student visa. International students who hold an F-1 student visa and are enrolled in these programs may:

Work on campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week with authorization by the school official.

Complete the required externship in the U.S. with authorization by the school official. Employment authorization is job-specific.

Accept part-time employment off campus after nine months of full-time study with authorization from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) via the application process. The time worked will be deducted from post-completion employment.

Accept full-time employment—for up to 12 months after completion of studies—with authorization from the DHS via the applica­tion process, which takes approximately three months.

All of the above employment opportuni­ties require a Social Security number. This application process takes 10–20 days, with authorization from the school official, and an offer of employment.

Note: Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter the U.S., but must have a pass­port. A student should present the passport, Form I-20 A-B, and financial documenta­tion at the Canadian/U.S. border.

Visa Requirements (Certificate Programs)

The certificate programs require an M-1 student visa. The M-1 visa does not allow students to work in the United States dur­ing their education, and is not acceptable for employment in the U.S. following graduation.

Students may apply for employment authorization after completion of studies based on one month of employment for every four months of study.

Medical Insurance

All F-1 and M-1 students are required to have medical insurance while in the U.S. The college strongly recommends that international students obtain a medical insurance plan before they leave that will cover their health costs in this country.

F-1 and M-1 students may also want to secure coverage for mental health care, prescriptions for any chronic illness, and dental care, as these are not necessarily included in basic medical insurance poli­cies. Students should consider their overall needs and well-being as they select a health plan that is right for them. Also, most plans require participants to pay for a portion of their care, so access to some cash or credit is still important.